8 reasons why you should drink more tea

Time to move over, coffee. Tea is making a comeback for a number of very good reasons.

1. Tea is really good for you.

See this infographic for the ways in which herbal teas and tisanes can help fight various sicknesses and allergies. Green tea, in particular, boosts the immune system and, according to one study, might make your bones stronger.

2. Tea hydrates your body as much as drinking water does.

If it doesn’t contain caffeine, tea can be counted toward your recommended daily intake of water. The antioxidants in tea are an added bonus.

3. Tea relaxes and calms the body.

Tea leaves contain an amino acid called theanine that is associated with reducing mental and physical stress and improving cognition. So there’s some scientific background to what we already know – that a tea break can turn around a bad day, improve one’s mood, and put one’s worries into better perspective.

4. Tea is much easier and faster to make than coffee.

That is, if you’re drinking real coffee, not the instant stuff! In little more than the time it takes to boil the kettle, you can have a cup of fresh and flavorful tea ready to drink. Tea also comes from a wide variety of things, which makes it easier to improvise if necessary. Chances are, there are herbs or weeds in your backyard that could be turned into delicious tea.

5. Tea is an excellent social lubricant.

You’ve probably heard alcohol called such, but tea does the same thing in a more conservative way. There’s nothing like a shared pot of tea to start conversations with friends (or smooth the way for awkward discussions with one’s mother, as I’ve learned from personal experience).

6. Tea can help you digest.

Whether you opt for energizing green tea (the traditional favorite in China and Japan), clean-tasting peppermint, or a combination of fennel and coriander seeds, a cup of tea after meals helps to speed up metabolism and gets your digestive system moving more efficiently.

7. Tea gives a better buzz than coffee.

Unlike coffee, which can give you the jitters followed by a crash, tea is a cleaner-burning and longer-lasting fuel when you’re looking for a good energy boost. Green matcha tea comes highly recommended, although the tannin in black tea can also slow the absorption of caffeine and release it in more manageable increments.

8. Tea is more environmentally friendly than coffee.

Because many herbal teas can be made using local herbs, nuts, weeds, and fruits, your tea options are not as limited as when you’re reliant on the coffee bean industry, which is geographically limited by climate. Also, the amount of water required to make a cup of coffee (from plant to cup) is 140 liters on average, compared to 35 liters per cup of tea.